The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-10-22
Written for The ArkmtsaW TrdUeter. LONDON CORRESPOND
 ENCE.
BY HAL BERT F..

presume there are very few of your readers who have not heard or heard of the song, "Bahy Mine" l see by New York paper that the author, q MT. Johnson, is dead and buried; anl yet, strange to say, he is not--the author, l mean-not Mr. J. The fact is, MT. Johnson never wrote the song at all It was written over fifty years ago, by Charles Mackay. Dr. Mackay states that nearly quarter of million copies of the song have been sold in the States, on which, reckoning a royalty at the rate of two cents per copy, he should have been entitled to over eight hundred pounds, but for which he did not receive cent In other words, the song was appropri- atcd, or "conveyed." Perhaps the time will come-and the sooner the better, for it cuts badly both ways copyright between the two countries. Surely the work of mans brain should be held as sacred as his watch or cash.
 Not long since supped, by invita- tion, with William Morris, the so- cialist poet. The author of "The Earthly Paradise" and father of the Socialist League, is as pleasant and jovial a man as one would wish to meet. So far from having fire brand or revolutionary appearance, he is about the mildest and most inoffen- sive- looking being 1 ever came across. He chatted away freely on his pet hobby, socialism, but did not allude in any way to the more creditable and enduring efforts of his poetic genius. ] could see-and l was sorry for it- that he was a socialist first and poet afterwards. MT. Morris evidently knows how to estimate at their true value the good things of this life, for his house is a ''house beautiful" and his table was laden with good things. Like all poets, MT. Morris is an ardent adorer of the fair sex, and can relate some pretty spicy stories when he is in the humor. He is a widower and and has two daughters. The young- est, Miss May, really charming girl, presided at one end of the table, and said Do have some more pie" in such an engaging way that it was almost impossible to say no. Like her father, she is rabid socialist, and acts as librarian to the League.
 Speaking of May Morris reminds me of a little romance not generally knowns The secretary of the Socialist League-a susceptible young man of amorous tendencies-fell in love with the divine May and his love was re- ciprocated. "But what would papa say?" queried the young man, and there was some trepidation at the thought, for papa was rich, and the love-sick swain earned but small salary of two dollars and halt weekly. However, "faint heart ne'er won fair lady," and to papa the young man went. Father William looked aghast. "Tut-tutp said he, "impos- sible. Look at the difference in your social positions" Then the young man brought his bump of arguments tiveness into play, and, said he;
 "You are a socialism"
 "Yes."
 "You preach the equality of man?"
 "Yes."
 "And yet you refuse .ne your daugh- ter's hand on the ground of social dis parity"
 Father William thought and thought and thought, but he found himself cornered. To go back on his own opinions would never do, so he reluctantly pocketed his objections and consented to the match. I don't know whether the little affair has come off yeti haven't received any wedding -cake-but presume when it does Father William will have to go shares to some extent with that cute young man-not bad thing for. the cute young man, eh?
 Rider Haggard has at last achieved the somewhat overdone distinction of producing two bad books, viz, 1Dawn,a and "The Witch's Head" When we come to put two and two together, however, the rea- son is not far to seek. Doubtless, if the truth were known, these two books were written in the long ago, rejected, laid aside, and resuscitated when "King Solomon's Mines" and "Shep were accepted, hit the popular taste and brought their author fame. What author but has his secret drawer
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